Instruments that measure air velocity and air/surface temperatures are one of the most important tools an HVAC tech will have in his tool box. With these meters seeing everyday use, it is imperative that you understand the limitations of certain instruments and select the correct one. Having the right tool will help grow your business and will pay for itself and then some. With so many options out there, I wanted to highlight a few models from Extech and discuss what sets them apart.

Today I will be going over the TSI 9515 VelociCalc Air Velocity Meter. This meter is an excellent entry level air velocity meter for the professional HVAC technician. The TSI 9515 separates itself from the plethora of air velocity meters in this price range by having a range of 0 to 4,000 ft/min (0 to 20 m/s) and an accuracy of 5%.

      This is a follow up to the smash hit, must read blog of the summer, Fieldpiece CO Detector Accessory Head. All kidding aside, the ATIR3 IR Thermometer Accessory Head by Fieldpiece is a much simpler product that every HVAC technician worth his weight in refrigerant will use.

When we last left off, I gave a small introduction to Fieldpiece and their philosophy regarding Multimeters in the HVAC world. Today we are going to discuss their HS36 TRMS Stick Meter. The Fieldpiece HS36 TRMS Stick Multimeter represents the top of the line Stick meter that Fieldpiece currently offers. For those unfamiliar with Stick style meters, this post should be a great introduction.

      Fieldpiece Instruments is a California based manufacturer that produces professional-grade testing equipment with a specialty in the HVAC/R market. While most Multimeters are designed for laboratory work or for use by electricians, Fieldpiece wanted to create a meter that was specifically designed with HVAC technicians in mind. What they came up with was the Stick Digital Multimeter.

      When I first took this product out of the shipping box, I was looking at what appeared to be an awkward, box shaped wheeled suitcase. After allowing my mind to drift to myself walking through an airport terminal with this thing in tow I quickly got down to business. Upon opening the suitcase you immediately see the care taken in design that ensures not only a tight fit but also safety for travel. The instrument sits inside a foam insert that keeps it from shuffling around and also lets you know exactly where all the pieces fit.

Many HVAC techs still wonder if any vacuum pumps are made in USA.  The answer is YES.  Yellow Jacket makes two different product series: SuperEvac and Bullet, and both types of vacuum pumps are made in USA.  SuperEvac comes in 4, 6, 8 and 11 CFM capacity, and it is a premium vacuum pump.